Dbq#2 Nationalism V. Sectionalism Essay

All in all, the period after the War of 1812 may seem to be an "Era of Good Feelings" because of nationalism and westward expansion, but in fact it was not because of increasing sectionalism and state issues. As a result of winning the War of 1812 against Great Britain,

From colonial times there were differences in geography that gave rise to variations in culture and economy in the United States. Due to the differing characteristics, a sectional economy molded the United States into two distinct regions: the north and the south. The north, a commercial society, which supported industry and commerce while the south, an agrarian civilization, flourished in the production of raw materials with use of slaves. The two economies were both self-supporting and capable to create a stronger, more productive nation. The regional differences sought to build America, in turn threatened to destroy it. Many Historians believe that the Civil War was constructed over the issue of slavery. However, the concerns of states'

Historians have traditionally labeled the period after the War of 1812 the "Era of good feelings". Although Nationalism did exist between regions of the United States, this was just a façade. Underneath this so-called nationalism there was a great deal of regionalism also known as sectionalism. Due to this great amount of sectionalism, the different way of living, the beliefs of tariffs and slavery brought the country to divide.

After the War of 1812 a Nationalistic spark ran throughout much of the United States. A primary factor in this emergence of Nationalism was due to the

By any criteria the years following the War of 1812, otherwise known as the “Era of Good Feelings,” must be considered a time of exceptional growth and development in the United States, but above all, it may be considered a time of evolution and ripening of American nationalism, unification, and economic prowess. The war of 1812 was a very problematic war. States did not fulfill their duties, while commanders and leaders were not informed or supplied enough to keep up the war. But what awakened during this time and afterwards is something much greater then victory. The war wasn’t just about Britain holding land and impressing American sailors into their navy; it was a second war of independence. It was the first war as a united country,

Later, many questions arose regarding if the newly acquired territory should allow slavery. In the attempt to solve this, Henry Clay led the Missouri Compromise which admitted Missouri as a slave state, and Maine as a free state creating a balance in Congress. This led to the belief that later in the future slavery be prohibited north of the southern border of Missouri in the remaining of the Louisiana Purchase. The issue of slavery continued to be an issue as the nation expanded because the Missouri Compromise didn’t apply to new territories that were not part of the Louisiana Purchase. By the new land acquired, the Southern economy increased because of the “Cotton King”, which also increased the labor in order to maintain the newly achieved economy. One the other hand, the North believed that the expansion of slavery was very small because they didn’t depend on slavery for their economic survival. The North relied on on textile industry on southern crops was increased by the creation of the cotton gin. Many Americans kept migrating to the west despite after the Missouri Compromise was adopted. Many would cross to the Oregon Territory, which belonged to the British and many more settled in Mexican territory

The period after the war of 1812 was labeled “The Era of Good Feeling” by historians. Some people believe that this is an accurate label of this time period, but others disagree. Due to the emergence of sectionalism- concern with local interests, and nationalism- patriotic feelings and self pride, people had mixed feelings about this time period. Many people felt that times were high, and that nationalism and sectionalism could only bolster the union, while others thought that it was sectionalism and nationalism that caused disunion. Some of the documents used in this essay support the claim that the period after 1812 was an era of good feelings. Other documents will oppose this claim with proof from their own perspectives.

In 1819, two more states wishing to join the union, were Missouri and Maine. Missouri wanted to join the union in the in the north, but as a slave state. this would make the balance of power in congress unequal. Many northerners opposed this idea. Northerners proposed that Missouri be a slave state and that no more slaves were to be brought in, and all slave children would be free at age 25. Eventually Missouri would be a free state. Southerners were opposed to this idea. Congress debated for months. This brought about the Missouri Compromise of 1820, when Henry Clay proposed that Maine enter the union as a free state. He also proposed prohibiting slavery above the 36’30’ latitude, which is the southern boundary of Missouri. Since plantations would not be able to survive further north of this line, the South agreed.

In american history we are currently studying the concept of sectionalism. sectionalism is divsion withing a country based on regional beliefs and intrest.in the early to mid 1800’s,sectionalism in America greep as slavery divided the nation. Slavery was ignored,compromised, and argued about by the states until the conflict drove our country into civil war.Although regional difference are not as distinct these days, many issues are currently causing division among the states and people of our country these issues lead to what our history class describe as “modern sectionalism”.one such issues abortion.

Under President Monroe’s presidency, the War of 1812 broke out and was ended through the Treaty of Ghent in 1812. News of the end of the war didn’t reach America until 2 weeks later so the Battle of New Orleans occurred and it consisted of Andrew Jackson defending New Orleans because the British was intending to snatch the city and hopefully divide Louisiana from the US. Jackson's army would end up killing 2,000 British soldiers including the chief. Jackson’s army didn’t have many casualties as only 8 of his soldiers died. This victory caused Americans to be happy and proud since throughout the War of 1812 there was just disappointments occurring. This victory would therefore start the Era of Good Feelings as people would be proud and would show it through things such establishing the National flag with stars resembling the states and the stripes that would resemble the original 13 colonies.

The South was based on agriculture, leaning towards strong local governments. The North was heavily influenced by Henry Clay’s American System, accompanied with large scale industrialization and cities. The most distinctive political difference between the northern and southern states was their view on slavery. The southern states found slaves a necessity in order to have a labour force to operated the cotton gins in the plantations; however, the northern states opposed the use of slaves due to their morales. This sectionalism caused a division among American citizens, affecting the government’s ability to unite the two political ideologies. To attempt to satisfy the demands of both the North and South, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was created to resolve issues of slavery in newer western states. This compromise brought upon the 36-30 Parallel Line, a geographical line that split the North and South, depicting the contrasting political and societal views and increasing sectionalism (F). This power struggle between states and the federal government only caused unrest, resulting in no further beneficial reforms or rulings, causing the Era of Good Feelings to not hold true to its name.

There were many problems, events, and situations that led to the Civil War. One of the major reasons for the outbreak of the war was sectionalism. Once the United States was split, many of the country's fundamental issues were disputed, with slavery being at the top of the list. Some of the other major issues in dispute were representation, tariffs, and states' rights. Sectionalism is defined as, the sharp socio-economic differences that divided the Northern and the Southern states in the U.S.

In the Hartford Convention of 1815, several northern states gathered to discuss an attempt to secede from the nation. However, the plan failed miserably, and without Alexander Hamilton, officially marked the death of the Federalist Party. Because of the end of the Federalist Party, and many other factors such as westward expansion and increased nationalism, many considered it to be an “Era of Good Feelings”, since there was no political opposition. However, through national unity, sectionalism, and state’s rights, the accuracy of the title the “Era of Good Feelings” isn’t so credible.

The most prominent causes of the Civil War were the institution of slavery, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, Dred Scott v. Stanford, and the election of 1860. The South's reliance on slaves, spurred on by Eli Whitney's cotton gin in 1793, and its cotton's success in international markets divided the nation. Its lands called for mass agricultural development, not the industrial factories of the North. Adding to the divisiveness was the Second Great Awakening's religious split between the pro- and anti- abolitionist churches of the North's and South's churches respectively. This divide over slavery was instrumental in the debate over Western lands, as evidenced by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Looming threats of secession from the South helped declare

Nationalism has played a crucial role in world history over the past centuries. It continues to do so today. For many, nationalism is indelibly associated with some of the worst aspects of modern history, such as the destructive confidence of the Napoleon’s army and the murderous pride of Nazi Germany. Large numbers of people, descent in their hearts, have carried out unbelievable atrocities for no better reason than their nation required them to. Authoritarian and totalitarian regime have crushed dissent, eliminated opposition, and trampled on civil liberties in the name of the nation.